treasure

/ˈtrɛʒər/

/ˈtrɛʒə/

Other forms: treasures; treasured; treasuring

Treasure is usually associated with riches — gold, jewels, doubloons — the stuff contained in pirates' treasure chests. However, you can also treasure things with purely sentimental value — like your pet rock or your blankie.

The English word treasure comes from the Old French tresor, both meaning "something of great worth." Still, the French tresor sounds so much more luxurious than the English treasure, and that form is the chosen name for an expensive perfume. Worth is relative, though. Going back further, we find that the Latin word for treasury is thesaurus, which is what a book of synonyms is called. Guess the ancients always understood the richness — and worth — of words.

Definitions of treasure

1. noun

   any possession that is highly valued by its owner
   “the children returned from the seashore with their shells and other treasures”

   type of:

   possession

   anything owned or possessed
2. noun

   a collection of precious things
   “the trunk held all her meager treasures”

   type of:

   accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection

   several things grouped together or considered as a whole
3. noun

   accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
   “the pirates hid their treasure on a small island in the West Indies”

   synonyms: hoarded wealth

   types:

   fortune

   a large amount of wealth or prosperity

   valuable

   something of value

   king's ransom

   a very large treasure

   treasure trove, trove

   treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)

   swag

   valuable goods

   precious metal

   any of the less common and valuable metals often used to make coins or jewelry

   type of:

   riches, wealth

   an abundance of material possessions and resources
4. noun

   art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
   synonyms: gem

   type of:

   art, fine art

   the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
5. verb

   hold dear
   synonyms: appreciate, prize, value

   types:

   do justice

   show due and full appreciation

   recognise, recognize

   show approval or appreciation of

   honor, honour, reward

   bestow honor or rewards upon

   rubricate

   place in the church calendar as a red-letter day honoring a saint

   type of:

   consider, reckon, regard, see, view

   deem to be
6. verb

   be fond of; be attached to
   synonyms: care for, cherish, hold dear

   types:

   yearn

   have affection for; feel tenderness for

   type of:

   love

   have a great affection or liking for